Isaac Linden ran 17:26 at Palmyra Cove and became Moorestown Friends’ 1st Burlington County Scholastic League cross country champion on Wednesday.
Moorestown Friends joined the BCSL last year and was competing in its first BCSL XC championship.
Linden finished 150 meters ahead of 2nd-place Jack Wessner, a Maple Shade senior, in the Freedom Division race.
Maple Shade outscored Moorestown Friends 31-52 to win the team title, with Westampton Tech 3rd with 76 points.
The Wildcats have won eight straight Freedom Division team titles. Last time Maple Shade didn’t win a BCSL team title was 2015, when they were in the Patriot Division – which no longer exists for XC – and took 2nd to Cinnaminson, 37-39.
Maple Shade went 2-3-6-9-11 in winning its 14th team title overall in various divisions.
Joining Wessner for the Wildcats in the top 10 were junior Ries Fox [3rd in 17:58], junior Michael Smith [6th in 18:20] and senior Dylan Davies [9th in 19:03]. 5th scorer was junior Kai Matis, 11th in 19:15.
Also in the top 10: Westampton Tech senior Elijah Rodriguez [4th in 18:11], Pemberton junior Jeremy Allen [5th in 18:19], Riverside sophomore Ronald McMahon [7th in 18:20], Westampton Tech senior Nasier Fields [8th in 18:49] and Moorestown Friends junior Allan Want [10th in 19:07].
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 